By Mary Alice Murphy

Joel Miller of the New Mexico Department of Transportation, District 1, and Greg Meyers, superintendent of road reconstruction contractor TLC, gave updates on the progress along the stretch of NM 15 between U.S. Highway 180 and 32nd Street in Silver City.

Construction of curb and gutter along Kimberly is continuing. Meyers said there would be no curb and gutter on Pinos Altos Roads southbound between Kimberly and U.S. 180, because of all the business dry pads along the route. "Everywhere else, we will have curb and gutter."

Three hundred feet up on Pine and 600 feet north on 32nd Street, additional turning lanes are being installed, as well as southbound from 32nd Street.

"We are a little bit ahead of schedule," Meyers said, "Depending on weather."

A member of the Bicycling Advisory Group in Silver City asked about bicycle lanes along the road. "The Silver City bicycle master plan details five-foot bike lanes on the roadway on each side."

Meyers said from R&L station and Service up to Kimberly, there are only a few places where curb can be. Along the rest of the roadway, the curbs are two-feet wide and five-feet wide for the bicycle lanes. "We will have a bike lane marked on the road where there is no curb and gutter, also."

Miller said the road is limited in right-of-way from R&L to Kimberly. Bicycles will share the road with vehicles, although the lanes will be striped in and will be reflective at night.

Meyers noted that there is no parking on Pinos Altos Road at all any time.

A man asked about an old light pole. Meyers said nothing had happened yet, but it would be addressed the next week. "If it's on state right-of-way, it will definitely come out." The same man asked about the water valve next to the pole and was told a change order is in effect to move the manhole.

To a question asking about when it will be done, Meyers said June or July, reiterating that it depended on the weather, as the workers do not work if it's raining or snowing.

"Pine, when it is completely done, will be opened in the first couple of weeks of November," Meyers said. "It will relieve some of the traffic."

On Kimberly, construction is extending the 48-inch storm drain. "It should be completed this week," Meyer said.

The rest of the meeting addressed individual questions from individual residents and businesses.